Experiment 402:

Plane and Spherical Mirrors

Charl Joseph B. Santiago, PHY13L/A4

charljosephsantiago@gmail.com

Abstract

In this experiment, the topic will revolve using two types of mirrors which are the plane
mirrors and the spherical mirrors. Plane mirrors produce virtual, unmagnified, and erect images
while the spherical mirrors produce the shape of a segment of a sphere. By using these types
of mirrors, the property of reflection can be proven. This experiment aims to determine the
number of image formed when plane mirrors are placed at a certain angle, to determine and
describe the image formed using a plane mirror and spherical mirrors, and to determine and
compute the focal length of spherical mirror.

Key Words: Light, Plane Mirror, Spherical Mirror

Introduction

Light is an electromagnetic wave that can be seen by humans. It can be considered as

waves or as particles. To distinguish the two personalities of light, light can be considered as
wave if it has a properties like reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction, while light
can be considered as a particle if it shows some properties of a particle. In this experiment,
light is considered as waves.

Reflection, a property of wave, is described as the bouncing of waves when it hits a

barrier. As shown in Fig. 1, the Law of Reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to
the angle of reflection.

Fig. 1. The Law of Reflection

With the use of plane and spherical mirrors, the light can be prove as a wave. A plane
mirror is an image which is virtual, upright, the same size and distance as the object. When two
plane mirrors are set with an angle, a series of images will be formed from the reflection of the
other images. The number of images that will be formed is
360
𝐼= −1 (1)
𝜃

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 As shown in Fig. 2, an object whose size is h, and has a distance of p from the plane
mirror cast an erect image of height h’, which has the same magnitude as h. The distance of the
image q has the same magnitude as the object p but formed behind the mirror. Thus p = -q, and
h = h’.

Fig. 2. The Image Formation from a Plane Mirror

A spherical mirror is an image which produces the shape of a segment of the sphere.
Spherical mirror can be a convex mirror or a concave mirror. A convex mirror always produces
a virtual, reduced, and upright image while a concave mirror can produce a real, enlarged,
inverted image if object is between the center C and the focus F, real, reduced, inverted image
if object is beyond the center C, and virtual, enlarged, upright image if object is between the
focus F and mirror. As shown in Fig. 3 is a concave mirror.

Fig. 3. The Image Formation of a Spherical Mirror (Concave Mirror)

The mirror equation is the image formed by spherical mirrors depend on the object
distance p and the focal length f of the mirror.

1 1 1
= + (2)
𝑓 𝑝 𝑞

If the image distance is needed, then

𝑝𝑓
𝑞= (3)
𝑝−𝑓

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 The magnification of the image is defined as the ratio of the image to the object
distance. Using trigonometry, we see that,

ℎ′ ℎ′
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑟 & = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑖
𝑞 𝑝

Since 𝜃𝑖 = −𝜃𝑟 , we get 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑖 = −𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃𝑟 , thus

ℎ′ 𝑞
𝑀= =− (3)
ℎ 𝑝

If the magnification’s absolute value is greater than 1, then the image is bigger than the
object. For the magnification’s absolute value that is less than 1, then the image is smaller than
the object. For magnification equal to one, the image has the same size as the object.

Another way to find the image position and its orientation is by using the ray tracing
method wherein a ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the focal point, or a ray
that passes through the focal point is reflected parallel to the principle axis, or a ray that travels
along a line that passes through the center of curvature reflects back.

Methodology

To start with this experiment, as shown in Fig. 4, we were given 2 pieces of plane
mirrors, 1 piece of pin, 2 pieces of concave mirrors, 1 piece of candle, 1 piece of ray table, 1
piece of three-surfaced mirror, 1 piece of meter stick, and 1 piece of optics table with light
source.

Fig. 4. The Materials for Experiment 402.

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1. Laws of Reflection

In the first part of the experiment, we are required to restrain in opening the lights in
order to get the data clearly. The first step is to mount the light source on the optic bench near
the ray table. Afterwards, position the light source until only one light ray shines perpendicular
across the middle of the top of the ray table with the degree scale. As shown in Fig. 5, place
the three-surfaced mirror on the ray table with the plane surface facing the light source.

Fig. 5. The set-up in Laws of Reflection

2. Number of Images Formed from Two Plane Mirrors

In the second part of the experiment, set two plane mirrors facing each other at a certain
angle. Afterwards, place a push pin, as shown in Fig. 6, between the plane mirrors and count
the number of images observed using equation 1.

Fig. 6. The set-up in Number of Images Formed from Two Plane Mirrors

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3. Determination of Focal Length and Radius
In the third part of the experiment, adjust the slit mask of the light source until five light
rays flash from the Light Source across the top of the ray table. Turn the three surface mirror,
just like in Fig. 7, so that the convex or concave surface faces the light source. Afterwards,
trace the outline of the mirrors, the incident rays and the reflected rays. Determine the
intersection of the reflected rays to get the focal length. Now we can also get the experimental
radius. In getting the actual radius, use a drawing compass and draw a circle fitted with the
mirror.

Fig. 7. The set-up in Determination of Focal Length and Radius of a Convex Mirror

4. Determination of Focal Length With Varying Object and Image Distance

For the last part of the experiment, there are three more procedures using a candle, a
concave mirror and a projection screen.

4.1.Object distance greater than the image distance.

In this part, as shown in Fig. 8A, set up in a way that a projection screen is place between
the light source and a movable concave mirror. Next, find a position for the mirror to make a
clear image of the light in the screen. After a while, we can measure the distance from the light
source to the mirror and from the screen to the mirror. We can also compute for the focal length
of the concave mirror using equation 4.

4.2.Image distance greater than the object distance.

The same procedure will follow in this part, but this time, as shown in Fig. 8B, the light
source is between the screen and he concave mirror.

4.3.Object distance equal to image distance.

Unlike before, place the screen and the light source side by side as shown in Fig. 8C.
Find a position of the mirror until a sharp image is formed on the screen.

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 Fig. 8. The set-up in Determination of Focal Length with
Varying Object and Image Distance

Results and Discussion

1. Laws of Reflection

In Table 1, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This proves the
Law of Reflection which states that the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the
surface all lie in the same plane, and the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Table 1. The Laws of Reflection

TRIAL ANGLE OF INCIDENCE ANGLE OF REFLECTION

1 60 60
2 30 30
3 45 45
4 40 40

2. Number of Images Formed From Two Plane Mirrors

In Table 2, as the angle between plane mirrors increases, the number of images formed
also increases. To prove equation 1, the observed number of images formed must be closely
equal to the calculated number of images formed.

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 Table 2. The Number of Images Formed Two Plane Mirrors

Angle Between Number of Images Formed, I

TRIAL
Plane Mirrors, 𝜃 Observed Calculated
1 10 35 35
2 15 23 23
3 30 11 11
4 45 7 7
5 60 5 5
6 75 4 3.8
7 90 3 3
8 120 2 2

3. Determination of Focal Length and Radius

In Table 3, the focal length and the radius of a convex mirror is smaller than the concave
mirror. It is because a convex mirror always produces a reduced image while a concave mirror
can produce enlarged image.

Table 3. The Determination of Focal Length and Radius

Type of Mirror Convex Concave

Focal length, 𝑓 4.5 cm 6.0 cm
Experimental radius of curvature, 9.0 cm 11.0 cm
𝑅𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
Actual radius of curvature, 𝑅𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 9.0 cm 12.0 cm
Percentage of error 0.0 % 8.33 %

4. Determination of Focal Length with Varying Object and Image Distance

The result in this experiment shows that a concave mirror can produce a real, enlarged,
inverted image if object is between the center C and the focus F just like in Table 4.1. It can
also be real, reduced, inverted image if object is beyond the center C like in Table 4.2. Lastly,
it can also be virtual, enlarged, upright image if object is between the focus F and mirror just
like in Table 4.3.

Table 4.1. The Object Distance greater than Image Distance

Computed Focal
Trial Object Distance Image Distance
Length
1 49.00 cm 30.00 cm 18.61 cm
2 47.00 cm 28.00 cm 17.55 cm
3 48.00 cm 29.00 cm 18.08 cm
4 48.00 cm 30.00 cm 18.46 cm
Average focal length 18.1750
Actual focal length 18.9000
Percentage of Difference 3.91 %

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 Table 4.2. The Image Distance greater than Object Distance

Computed Focal
Trial Object Distance Image Distance
Length
1 25.00 cm 47.00 cm 16.32 cm
2 24.00 cm 45.00 cm 15.65 cm
3 26.50 cm 48.50 cm 16.28 cm
4 24.00 cm 45.00 cm 15.65 cm
Average focal length 15.9700
Actual focal length 16.1000
Percentage of Difference 0.81 %

Table 4.3. The Object Distance equal to the Image Distance

Computed Focal
Trial Object Distance Image Distance
Length
1 25.00 cm 25.00 cm 12.50 cm
2 27.00 cm 27.00 cm 13.50 cm
3 26.50 cm 26.50 cm 13.25 cm
4 26.00 cm 26.00 cm 13.00 cm
Average focal length 13.0625
Actual focal length 13.0000
Percentage of Difference 0.48 %

In doing this experiment, there can be possible sources of error observed. In the first,
third, and fourth part of the experiment, the presence of light will somehow affect the data since
the light that comes from the light source will not be clearly visible. In the second part of the
experiment, there will be a small discrepancy between the number of images observed and
calculated if the counting of images is inaccurate.

Conclusion

In this experiment, we were able to prove that light can be considered as wave since it
satisfies a property of wave which is “Reflection”. We found out that the larger the angle is,
the number of image formed when plane mirrors are placed at a certain angle. We also found
out the different images formed by mirrors. The image formed by a plane mirror is always
virtual, upright, same size and distance as the object while the image formed by a spherical
mirror can be virtual or real, reduced or enlarged, upright or inverted depending on the type of
mirror used. The image produced by a convex mirror is always virtual, reduced, and upright.
On the other hand, the image produced by a concave mirror can be real, enlarged, and inverted
if object is between the center C and the focus F. It can also be real, reduced, and inverted if
object is beyond the center C. Lastly, it can be virtual, enlarged, and upright if object is between
the focus F and mirror. Lastly, we were able to compute the focal length of spherical mirror by
getting the reciprocal of the reciprocal of the object distance and the image distance.

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References:
Book
[1] Halliday, Resnik, Walker, Principles of Physics. 9th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. USA
(2011)
[2] Young, Freedman, University Physics. 12th ed., Pearson Addison Wesley, Inc. USA (2008)

Manual
[1] Benzon, AM, Plane and Spherical Mirrors. Physics Lab Manual, 12-16 (2014)

Others
[1] http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refln/Lesson-1/The-Law-of-Reflection
[2] http://www.cabrillo.edu/~jmccullough/physics10/files/ch28_reflection_refraction.pdf
[3] http://www.hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/reflectcon.html
[4] http://www.faculty.etsu.edu/lutter/courses/phys2020/p2020chap12.pdf